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222 AMERICAN SPIDERS AND THEIR SPINNINGWORK. 
towards the end, which bends under, leaving the base within the atriolum and the portulie 
exposed on either side; it thus presents the appearance of the clasp of a padlock when shut 
down; the color of this scapus is amber. 
Mare: I have but one specimen which I regard with little doubt as the male of this 
species, and which is perfect with the exception of the two hind legs. (Fig. 2b.) The 
specimen is relatively even smaller than the males of Argiope cophinaria and argyraspis, 
being 3.7 mm. in body length. The cephalothorax and legs are a uniform yellowish 
brown; the abdomen has the same silvery white appearance as that of the female, but to a 
less degree. Longitudinal stripes of yellow pass on either side of the median line or the 
dorsum. The basal processes are distinctly marked, and along the sides of the abdomen 
appear what I take to be indications of the lateral projections or lobes. In a specimen in 
the Marx Collection the lobes show plainly. (Fig. 2.) The face, mandibles, and eyes, in 
general construction and arrangement, resemble males of A. argyraspis. The eyes have the 
front row slightly procurved, the rear row decidedly so; SF decidedly smaller than SR 
and contingent. (Fig. 2c, Plate II., 2b.) The palp has a single strong spinal bristle projecting 
from the tip of the cubital joint, and the radial joint is well provided with long bristles. 
The boatlike cymbium is of yellowish color, and strongly covered with bristles. The inly- 
ing convolutions (Figs. 2d, 2c) present characteristics something like a combination of the 
palpal digits of both A. cophinaria and A. argyraspis. A strong black spiral process, bluntly 
terminated, is a marked characteristic by which it-may be easily determined. 
Disrrieurion: This beautiful species inhabits Southern California, from which I haye 
received numerous specimens (Mr. Orcutt, Mrs. Eigemann); from Magdalena Bay, off the 
coast of Lower California (Mr. C. H. Townsend). I have also specimens from Florida, and 
Dr. Marx reports it in his Catalogue from Texas and Arizona. Abbot collected it in 
Georgia and the Soutlrern States, and has two fine figures in his manuscript drawings. 
The species is well distributed throughout South America, and inhabits also the West Indies 
(Costa Rica, Santo Domingo), whence I have several specimens (Mr. William Gabb), It may 
be regarded as tropical and subtropical in its habitat. 
No. 74. Argiope avara Trore.t. Plate XIV, Figs. 1, 1a. 
1868. <Argiope avara, THoOREIL. ... . Fregatten Eugenies Resa., Aranese, Vetensk. Akad. 
Handling, p. 27. 
Fremave: Total length, 18 mm.; abdomen, 14 mm. long, 13 mm, wide; cephalothorax, 
6.5 mm. long, 5.5 mm, wide; face, 2.5 mm. wide. 
CrrHaLotHorAx: Corselet rounded at the margin, very flat and thin, though somewhat 
elevated in the centre; fosse deep, head depressed, and flattish on top; color brown, with 
yellowish white on the margin, covered with silvery white hairs; sternum dark brown, 
with a broad median band of bright yellow, narrowing towards the apex, and with radiate 
points at the corners, presenting the appearance of a pelt of a vertebrate animal; somewhat 
longer than wide, pointed at the apex, with well developed sternal cones; clothed with 
strong bristles and hairs. Labium is subtriangular; maxille as wide as long, and both 
brown, with yellowish margins. 
Eyrs: Ocular quad elevated; widest behind, somewhat longer than wide; MF separated 
by about 1.5 diameter; MR about equal MI in size, and separated at least or more than 
two diameters; side eyes on strong tubercles; SR much larger than SF, separated by about 
or less than radius SF; MF are removed from SF by about their alignment; height of 
clypeus about two diameters MI’; front row somewhat the longer, rear row decidedly pro- 
curved, The side tubercles have a band of yellow at the base, which passes across the 
middle of the ocular quad, 
Leas: 1, 2, 4, 3, as follows: 35, 33, 28,16 mm. Although probably darkened much by 
the alcohol, appear to be a rich dark brown, with dark annuli at the tips of the joints, 
which on the metatarsi and tarsi are black; they are not stout, rather thin, indeed, for such 
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